links for 2008-09-10

"The rooftop terrace at New York's Empire Hotel was a fitting location for the launch party of ABC News correspondent Jim Sciutto's new book, "Against US." Through stunning interviews and a riveting narrative, Sciutto reports on the growing pan-Arab hatred toward Western imperialism. Scuitto, who's been reporting on the subject for the last six years, tells TVNewser, "It's hard not to know your nationality when you're in that part of the world. There's a personal aspect in this. As an American, I like my country. I get worried when it is so hated and so resented," he says."

"The owner and managers of the nation's largest kosher meatpacking plant were charged Tuesday with more than 9,000 misdemeanors alleging they hired minors and had children younger than 16 handle dangerous equipment such as circular saws and meat grinders. […] The complaint filed by the Iowa attorney general's office said the violations involved 32 illegal-immigrant children under age 18, including seven who were younger than 16. Aside from handling dangerous equipment, the complaint says children were exposed to dangerous chemicals such as chlorine solutions and dry ice."

"D.WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT YOU DONT HAVE TO BE A TAMIL OR A LTTE SUPPORTER TO KNOW THAT BURNING DOWN A SCHOOL WITH 800 KIDS IN THE NAME OF FIGHTING TERRORISM IS NOT COOL. I AM NOT A LTTE SUPPORTER. I WAS JUST AN 8 YEAR OLD THAT DIDNT GET KILLED ON THAT DAY, THATS ALL. I'M A MUSICIAN WHO DOESNT WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS AGAIN AND AGAIN, ESPECIALLY IN THE MUSIC PRESS."

"[T]hat's the problem. That's white privilege. Or "upper-middle-class" privilege. Or "developed-nation" privilege. Or "superpower" privilege. Whatever you want to call it – the tendency to think that we know it all and have the right to tell other people how to do things. That we know better, and thus are "doing good" by getting mixed up in other people's problems, as we view them from our own narrow cultural world-view. Meanwhile, we let injustice happen on our own doorstep because "it's not my fault – I'm not directly responsible" or there's "nothing I can do." And then we re-convince ourselves that we're "making a difference."

Listen to segment three. Former Republican congressman JC Watts discusses why the elitist charge against Obama is dishonest, explains how they are trying to swiftboat Oprah with claims she never made, mentions that both parties have issues with race and says he is on record trying to encourage other Republicans to stay away from negative campaigning. Knock me over with a feather. – LDP

"Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Monday it was "unacceptable" that there were so few black people like herself in the US diplomatic corps. "I want to see a Foreign Service that looks as if black Americans are part of this great country," Rice told a gathering of black colleges and universities in Washington. "I have lamented that I can go into a meeting at the Department of State," said Rice, the second black person to become secretary of state after her predecessor Colin Powell. "And, as a matter of fact, I can go into a whole day of meetings at the Department of State and actually rarely see somebody who looks like me, and that's just not acceptable," she added."

"[T]ake Super Mario Bros. Mario is an Italian stereotype. And when they have him talk, he talks in a stereotypical Italian accent. Fine. I'm not asking for it to be pulled. I'm just asking that you take a minute and picture a similar character based on some other group of people. I know. Super Mario is a beloved cultural icon, a part of the fabric of our childhoods. Just like Memin Pinguin is to Mexico? "

"When I heard that there was going to be a black kid on the new 90210, I celebrated for about three seconds. Then I read that he was adopted. What a fucking cop out. It's been 18 years since The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, 24 years since The Cosby Show and 33 years since The Jeffersons. Why can't there be a black kid living in an affluent neighborhood who has his own money? Or has ONE rich black parent? "

This is important, y'all. – LDP "The story detailed the problems that China's central bank faces as its investments in the American economy have turned out poorly. In a bid to finance its ongoing industrialization, China has bought some $1 trillion worth of Treasury bonds and debt from U.S. agencies. A lot of that investment has come in so-called mortgage-backed securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac."

"Dodd has said he is troubled about the plan. "First of all, I want to know the motivations for it," he says. "We passed a major, landmark piece of housing legislation about a month ago, in which was included newly sought authority by the secretary of the Treasury to possibly take equity positions within Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — with a quick assurance by the secretary of the Treasury that that authority would never be used — but now, getting a far more aggressive action taken by the Treasury. So I clearly have a question: What transpired? The second question I have is: What [effect does this] have on home mortgages, on homeowners? Thirdly, what happens to taxpayers?"

Race, Culture, and Identity in a Colorstruck World

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Racialicious is a blog about the intersection of race and pop culture. Check out our daily updates on the latest celebrity gaffes, our no-holds-barred critique of questionable media representations, and of course, the inevitable Keanu Reeves John Cho newsflashes.

Latoya Peterson (DC) is the Owner and Editor (not the Founder!) of Racialicious, Arturo García (San Diego) is the Managing Editor, Andrea Plaid (NYC) is the Associate Editor. You can email us at team@racialicious.com.